This laboratory had reported that acupuncture at "Tan-Zhong" acupoint couldstimulate pituitary prolactin (PRL) secretion in both lactating and non-lactating(male

female

ovariectomized estrogen-supplemented) rats. Hu et al haddiscovered that acupuncture could increase plasma PRL level in women of lacta-tion deficiency. As was known

pituitary PRL secretion was under the controlof prolactin inhibitory factor (PIF) and prolactin releasing factor (PRF) releasedfrom hypothalamic neurons as well as several central neurotransmitters. In thepast decade

many studies in neuroendocrinology revealed that Tubero-infundibulardopamine (TIDA) neurons of hypothalamus play a major modulating role in PRLsecretion. It is generally agreed that dopamine was the major PIF. Thecentral noradrenaline (NE) is also a modulator. It was reported that NE couldinhibit PRL secretion

but others obtained opposite result. Theraminobutyric acid (GABA) has dual actions on PRL secretion: central action isstimulatory

but inhibitory on pituitary directly Using agonist or antagonist of central neurotransmitter as well as its bio-synthesis blocker etc.

this paper mainly observed the possible role of catechola-mine and r-aminobutyric acid in prolactin-elevating effect of acupuncture. Thiswill help further studying on and provide possible central mechanism for the effect of promoting milk yield and elevating PRL secretion by acupuncture.